Insoluble polyalkyl phosphonium salt resins having crosslinked backbone

ABSTRACT

Novel resins having a carbon-to-carbon backbone, cross-linked with carbon-to-carbon linkages and having a plurality of   pendant groups, wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 3, preferably 3, m is an integer from 1 to 6, preferably 3, each R is an alkyl group of from 1 to 10 C atoms, preferably 2-6 C atoms, R&#39;&#39; is an alkyl or CN, or other group inert to reaction with the phosphonium halides, alkoxides, or the phosphonium salt resins, or in some instances organolithium reagents and X is an alkoxyl or aryloxy group, an OH group or a hydrocarbyl COO group or a CN , NO3 , SO4 , or Cl04 group and a method of their preparation are disclosed. The cross-linked resins are useful as resins and as insoluble catalysts for preparation of glycol ethers from alcohols and epoxides, and for polymerizing epoxides.

United States Patent i 1 Rakshys, Jr. et al.

l l INSOLUBLE POLYALKYL PHOSPHONIUM SALT RESINS HAVING CROSSLINKED BACKBONE 175] Inventors: Joseph W. Rakshys, Jr., Midland.

Mich; Suzanne V. McKinley. Wellesley. Mass.

[73] Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company.

Midland. Mich.

[32 Filed: Aug. 23. 1973 2| Appl. N02 390.830

[52] U.S. Cl. 260/2.l E: loll/88.2 S; loll/88.! P

[5] Int. Cl. C08F 230/00; CO8F 2 [0/00 [58} Field of Searchmm... 260/80t7l. 88,25,881 P. 260/21 E [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1708.462 l/l973 McKinley ct all 260/80 7] -1725.365 4/1973 McKinle) cl al, 260/8071 3.725.509 4/1973 Kraft e! .7 2610/8071 3.726.839 4/[973 Jin l 16U/8(l.7l

Priman' Etuminer-Melvin Goldstein Assistant EraminerPeter Kulkosky Attorney Agent, or Firm-Stephen Hoynak [57] ABSTRACT Novel resins having a carbon-to-carbon backbone,

[ Nov. 11, 1975 pol mer chain poh mcr chain pendant groups, wherein n is an integer of from l to 3 preferably 3. m is an integer from l to 6. preferably 3. each R is an alkyl group of from I to 10 C atoms preferably 2-6 C atoms R is an alkyl or CN. or other group inert to Leaction with the phosphonium halides, alkoxides. or the phosphonium salt resins, or in some instances organolithium reagents and X is an alkoxyl or aryloxy group, an OH group or a hydrocarbyl COO group or a CN. N0 S0 or C10 group and a method of their preparation are disclosed. The cross-linked resins are useful as resins and as insoluble catalysts for preparation of glycol ethers from alcohols and epoxides. and for polymerizing epoxides.

l2 Claims, No Drawings bly such hydrocarbyl group having I to 6 C atoms, and INSOLUBLE POLYALKYL PHOSPHONIUM SALT most preferably an alkyl group of 1 to 6 C atoms, a cy- RESINS HAVING CROSSLINKED BACKBONE cloalkyl or a phenyl group, a CN', N SO, or a C10, group, R is H, CN or one or more alkyl groups 5 of l to 4 C atoms and preferably the total number of C BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION atoms in all alkyl groups represented by R is not Tetraalkylphosphonium salt groups attached to a greater than 4 C atoms, n is an integer from I to 3, m pendant group of a cross-linked polymer are novel. The is an integer from 1 to 6, preferably 3 to 4, and Z is H cross-linked polymers are thermally stable and they are or a CO R' group having R' as defined above or as insoluble in known organic solvents, but they are swell- -(CH ),,,P*(R) X and is an integer greater than 1.

able in many solvents and are permeable to many solu- The moiety represented by y constitutes 99 mole tions. These properties make them admirably suited for percent of the entire polymer.

uses such as anion exchange materials or in the cases The main polymer chain comprises a carbon-to-carwhere the phosphonium salt group is sufficiently basic, bon backbone which may have alkyl or other substitu- (e.g., hydroxide, alkoxides, phenoxides, cycloalkoxtion thereon in which the substituent is not reactive ides) as insoluble catalysts for the preparation of glycol with organolithium compounds, alkali metal alkoxides ethers or for polymerization of epoxides. Use of crossor hydroxide groups. linked phosphonium salt resins as catalysts for glycol The polymers are cross-linked through carbon-toether synthesis and for polymerization catalysts obvicarbon bonds by the use of a polyunsaturated monomer ates the necessity of removing catalyst from the glycol 20 during polymerization. Representative cross-linking ethers and from the epoxide polymers and therefore agents include the divinyl benzenes, lower alkyl substisubstantially eliminates the problem of color removal, tuted divinyl benzenes, trivinyl benzenes, diisopropenyl which is associated with the use of conventional caustic benzenes, triisopropenyl benzenes, and lower alkyl subcatalysts in glycol ether formation and the polymerizastituted derivatives thereof in which the substituent has tion of epoxides. up to 4 carbon atoms; divinyl cyclohexane, trivinyl cyclohexane or any other polyolefinically unsaturated SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION monomer which copolymerizes with the styrene or It has been found that the insoluble tetraalkylphosacrylic ester or maleic monomer or both. phonium salts of this invention are heat stable. The The proportion of cross-linking agent to the monobasic reacting salts are excellent catalysts for the preolefinic monomer can range from about 0.1 to about 30 partion of glycol ethers and for polymerizing epoxides. mole percent. The preferred range is from about 1 to When used for either purpose color formation in the about 6% by weight and most preferred is a range of glycol ether or the epoxide polymer is minimized and about 1 to 3% by weight. The preferred cross-linking catalyst removal is effected by simple filtration or cenagents are the divinyl benzenes. Included among the trifuging. No tedious separation step, such as that necvinyl aromatic compounds to which a essary when soluble catalysts are employed, is required. (CH ),,P (R) X) group can be appended are the halo- Details of the process for the preparation of glycol alkyl aromatic compounds, preferably iodo, bromo or ethers are given in our copending application entitled chloro alkyl aromatics. These can be present on a sty- Method of Preparing Monoethers of Alkylene Glyrene, methyl styrene, ring alkylated styrenes, including cols," Ser. No. 390,453 filed of even date herewith. vinyl toluene, t-butyl styrene, vinyl xylenes, isoprope- The teachings of said copending application relative to nyl toluene, isopropenyl xylenes, ethyl styrenes and the preparation of glycol ethers is incorporated herein ethyl isopropenyl benzenes. The vinyl benzene moiety by reference. can range from 0-80 mole percent, preferably 50-75 mole percent. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The tetraalkyl phosphonium group can also be at- The cross-linked polymers have a carbon-to-carbon tached to an acrylate ester, a methacrylate ester or a main polymer chain or backbone and cross-links maleic ester moiety. The acrylate, methacrylate or maformed by the addition copolymerization of a monoleic ester can be a cross-linked copolymer with a polyolefinically unsaturated monomer and a polyolefiniolefinic monomer as defined or it can be part of a tri or cally unsaturated monomer. The pendant groups on the tetrapolymer with one or two other mono-olefinic monmain polymer chain or backbone can contain a tetomers which copolymerize with the acrylate ester or raalkylphosphonium salt group. The latter on the main maleic ester. polymer chain conforms graphically to the structures Representative mono-olefins which can be employed y R rcnnnwnnx or o otcan manxwhere R" is H or a methyl group, R is a saturated unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group of l to 10 C for the above purpose include, styrene, methyl styrene, atoms, preferably 2 to 6 C atoms, X is an OH or an isopropenyl benzenes and lower alkyl substituted vinyl OR' group where R' is a hydrocarbyl group of l to benzenes particularly those having I to 4 C atoms in 10 C atoms free of aliphatic unsaturation, and preferathe alkyl group.

3 4 There are two general routes for preparing the comhours. By this reaction CH CH CH OH replaced the positions of this invention. Br on the aromatic pendant rings of the polymer. After In one procedure a haloalkyl substituted vinyl benwashing with water, a tetrahydrofuran-water mixture,

zene can be polymerized with desired amount of a tetrahydrofuran and then ether, the polymeric beads cross-linking agent and optionally with one or more 5 were dried. Analysis showed complete removal of Br mono-olefinically unsaturated monomers which copofrom the polymer. lymerize with the other monomers in the system. Ten weight parts of the Br-free polymer, were treated The resulting cross-linked polymer having haloalkyl with 7-9 weight parts 0f 1 and 10 weight parts of trigroups on the side chains is reacted with a trialkyl phosphenyl phosphite to convert the CH CH CH OH phine to form a polymer having tetraalkyl phospho- 10 group to -CH CH CH I. nium halide pendant groups on the side chain. The After stirring with reflux overnight, the polymer phosphonium structure can be on -99 mole percent beads were cooled, filtered and washed with benzene of the pendant groups, preferably on 24-99% of such and methanol. groups, Four weight parts of the beads containing the iodo- The tetraalkyl phosphonium halide containing resins l5 propyl group were swollen in benzene and treated with are then converted to alkoxides directly be reaction of a two-fold excess of triethyl phosphine and stirred at the halide anion with a metal alkoxide, particularly an reflux for 8 hours. Dimethyl sulfoxide in a quantity of alkali metal alkoxide. or indirectly by first converting about one-third the volume of the mixture in the flask, the halide to a salt of an organic carboxylic acid and was added and the mixture was refluxed overnight. The then reacting the latter with an alkali metal alkoxide. polymer having Thus, the direct conversion of the tetraalkyl phosphonium halide group to the alkoxide is possible if the anion is Cl or Br, and the indirect route via carboxylic acid salt formation is preferred if the anion is 1.

Preparation of Tetraalkyl Phosphonium Halides The general route for preparing tetraalkyl phosphonium halide resins is to react a swollen cross-linked haloalkyl substituted polymer with a trialkyl phosphine in a solvent which is inert to the trialkyl phosphine, the

haloalkyl polymer and the resulting phosphonium halgroups attached to the main Polymer Chain was filtered,

id c i i l washed with benzene and methylene chloride and then P l h i h l lk l b im m on a pendant dried. Analysis indicated 1.58 mmole functional groups benzene nucleus can be converted to the correspond P gram of ing phosphonium halide-containing derivatives in acmake P y with z 'UUa g p cordance with h f ll i fgfmu|a cross-linked copolymer of monochloromethyl vinyl cross-linked olv n chain In the formula R, n and X have the designation given benzene is reacted with trialkyl phosphine. Correabove. spondingly, other vinyl benzenes with haloCH or In a similar manner, acrylate or maleic esters having other haloalkyl groups on the ring can be used.

a haloalkyl group in the ester moiety can be reacted Methacryloyl chloride was reacted with 3-bromo-lwith a trialkyl phosphine to convert the haloalkyl group propanol in benzene in the presence of pyridine. The

to a phosphonium halide group. 3-bromopropyl methacrylate was recovered by frac- Representative inert solvents include benzene, ditional distillation at 63-70C. and 1.5 mm. pressure.

methylsulfoxide, and acetonitrile. A mixture of 1.1 molar ratio of styrene and the above Insoluble polymer beads were made by suspension methacrylate and 1.7 weight percent of divinyl benzene copolymerization of a mixture of 2:1 molar styrene-pwas polymerized by a suspension procedure using benbromo-styrene and 2 weight percent based on the total zoyl peroxide as a catalyst.

weight of styrenes of divinyl benzene. A resin having phosphonium bromide pendant 1 1.6 Parts by weight were swollen in benzene and 50 groups was prepared by swelling 1.18 parts of the crossml. of 2.9 M, n-butyllithium in benzene (9.3 parts by linked 3-bromopropyl methacrylate-styrene-divinyl weight on n-butyllithium) were added, underanitrogen benzene beads in benzene, and treating the mixture atmosphere. The mixture was stirred for three days. Exwith 2 equivalents of triethyl phosphine. Ten ml. of dicess butyllithium was removed and the beads were methylsulfoxide were added to the mixture which was washed with benzene, while in an inert atmosphere. A then refluxed overnight. The so-treated beads were filbenzene solution containing 1.7 weight parts of tritered, washed with benzene, dimethyl sulfoxide and methylene oxide was added and the mixture was stirred benzene and then dried. Analysis showed that the polyfor several hours at 0C. followed by refluxing for 4 mer contained 4.97% P and 12.3% Br.

Another phosphonium bromide resin was prepared in the same manner, from the bromopropyl methacrylate containing resin, except for the use of tributyl phosphine for conversion of the bromopropyl methacrylate. This polymer contained 4.31% P and 11.63% Br.

Maleic acid esters having one to two (CH halide groups can also be copolymerized with a mono olefinic polymerizable monomer and a cross-linking agent. Both carboxyl groups, should be esterified, but only one need have a -(CH halide ester linkage.

Preparation of Polymeric Phosphonium Compounds of This invention The examples are intended to illustrate, but not to limit the invention. Parts and percentages are given by weight unless otherwise specifically indicated.

EXAMPLE 1 This example discloses an indirect method of converting a pendant tetraalkyl phosphonium halide to the corresponding alkoxide.

One weight part of the resin having a plurality pendant groups. prepared as described above, was swollen in an 80/20 (V/V) dimethylsulfoxide-water mixture and treated in a column with 6.6 weight parts of sodium acetate 50 equivalents) dissolved in 100 ml. of an 80/20 (V/V) dimethylsulfoxide-water mixture. Removal of iodide from the resin was quantitative. The resin beads were then removed from the column, placed in 80/20 (V/V) ethanol-water in which 3.7 weight parts of Na (l equivalents) were dissolved. The beads were then washed until the effluent was neutral. Titration of the beads for base content indicated that at least 60% of the original I was converted to basic groups as OC H or 0H.

Lithium chloride can be used in place of sodium acetate, in which event a halogen exchange is effected to convert the l to Cl. The Cl can then be converted directly to an alkoxide and/or hydroxide by reaction with an alkali metal alkoxide or hydroxide. If the halogen in phosphonium group on the resin is a bromine atom, it also can be displaced directly with an alkali metal alkoxide or hydroxide.

The tetraalkyl phosphonium halide groups of the general structure can be converted to 6 CN, N0 80 or C10, groups replace the halogen by reacting an alkali metal salt containing one of said groups with the tetraalkyl phosphonium halide.

Resins having 0 by reacting tricyclohexylphosphine with the by following the above steps with alkali metal salts of form of resin and then proceeding as described above.

EXAMPLE 2 The alkoxide or hydroxide form of the triethylpropyl and tributylpropyl phosphonium methacrylate resin were made by the indirect procedure via the acetate route described above.

Thus, 1 part by weight of the resin in which the methacrylate ester moiety contained a (CH -,P*(C H Br group was treated with 6.6 weight parts of sodium acetate dissolved in an /20 (V/V) dimethylsulfoxidewater mixture. The reaction product (the acetate) was then reacted with sodium ethoxide or hydroxide to exchange OC H or OH for the acetate group.

in the like manner, the resin having (CH P (C H Br in the ester moiety was first converted to the acetate by exchange for the Br and then OC H or OH was exchanged for the acetate.

The conversion of the tetraalkyl phosphonium bromide to its alkoxide or hydroxide by exchange of the Br can be effected directly with an alkali metal alkoxide or hydroxide.

Also, Br can be exchanged for CN', N0 SOfto or CIO, by means described for the styrene containing resins.

All the reactions of the acrylate resins can also be used for converting maleic ester containing resins to resins containing tetraalkyl phosphonium groups of the type herein indicated.

We claim:

I. An insoluble polymer having a carbon to carbon cross-linked backbone, said polymer having a plurality of groups where R" is H or a methyl group, R is a saturated unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group having from I to 10 C atoms, X is an OH or an OR' group where R' is a hydrocarbyl group of l to 10 C atoms free of aliphatic unsaturation, a CN, N0 S0 or a C10 group, R is H, CN or one or more alkyl groups of l to 4 C atoms wherein the number of C atoms is not greater than 4, n is an integer of from l to 3, and y is an integer greater than i and constitutes from 20 to 99 mole percent of the polymer, from about 0.1 to about 30 mole percent being derived from a polyolefinic monomer and the remainder being derived from a monoolefinic monomer.

2. A polymer of claim I in which R is H and X is an alkoxy group of l to 6 C atoms.

3. A polymer of claim 1 in which R is H and X is OH.

4. A polymer of claim 1 in which R is H and n is 3.

5. A polymer of claim 1 in which R is -CH and n is 3.

6. A polymer of claim 2 in which the said alkoxy group has 2 to 4 C atoms.

7. A polymer of claim I in which X is a phenoxy group.

8. A polymer of claim I in which X is a cycloalkoxy group.

9. A method of preparing a polymer having a carbon to carbon backbone cross-linked backbone, said polymer having a plurality of groups wherein R" is H or a methyl group, R is a saturated unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group having from I to ID C atoms, X is an OH or an OR group where R' is a hydrocarbyl group of from I to C atoms free of aliphatic unsaturation. a CN, N0 $0 or ClOf group, R is H. CN or one or more alkyl groups of l to 4 C atoms wherein the number of C atoms is not greater than 4, n is an integer of from I to 3, and y is an integer greater than I, and constitutes from to 99 mole percent of the polymer, from about 0.! to about mole percent being derived from a 8 polyolefinic monomer and the remainder being derived from a monoolefinic monomer comprising. reacting the corresponding tetraalkyl phosphonium halide in which the halide is Cl or Br with an alkali metal alkoxide or an alkali metal compound having a CN". N0 S0 or ClOf group.

10. The method of preparing a polymer as defined in claim 9 wherein the tetraalkyl phosphonium halide is an iodide, comprising reacting said tetraalkyl phosphonium iodide with a salt of an organic carboxylic acid and thereafter adding an alkali metal alkoxide to the reaction product.

11. A polymer of claim 1 which has a plurality of pendant groups attached to main polymer chain.

12. The method of claim 10 in which the tetraalkyl phosphonium iodide of the structure is reacted with sodium acetate and then the reaction product thereof is reacted with sodium hydroxide in ethanol.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,919,126 DATED November 11, 1975 INVENTOR(S) oseph W. Rakshys, Jr.

I I Suzanne V. McKinley It \s Cettlflfid that error appears in the above-ident fied patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the Abstract, line 13 (second column) delete "80 and insert SO Col. 1, in the second structure, move the "y" from inside the large parenthesis to the lower right hand side of the large parenthesis.

Col. 3, line 16, delete the word "be" and insert by Col. 5, line 44, delete the symbol "I" and insert I" Col. 6, line 37, delete "to" Signed and Scaled this second Day 0f March 1976 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner oj'Patents and Trademarks 

1. AN INSOLUBLE POLYMER HAVING A CARBON TO CARBON CROSSLINKED BACKBONE, SAID POLYMER HAVING A PLURALITY OF
 2. A polymer of claim 1 in which R'' is H and X iS an alkoxy group of 1 to 6 C atoms.
 3. A polymer of claim 1 in which R'' is H and X is OH .
 4. A polymer of claim 1 in which R'' is H and n is
 3. 5. A polymer of claim 1 in which R'' is -CH3 and n is
 3. 6. A polymer of claim 2 in which the said alkoxy group has 2 to 4 C atoms.
 7. A polymer of claim 1 in which X is a phenoxy group.
 8. A polymer of claim 1 in which X is a cycloalkoxy group.
 9. A method of preparing a polymer having a carbon to carbon backbone cross-linked backbone, said polymer having a plurality of
 10. The method of preparing a polymer as defined in claim 9 wherein the tetraalkyl phosphonium halide is an iodide, comprising reacting said tetraalkyl phosphonium iodide with a salt of an organic carboxylic acid and thereafter adding an alkali metal alkoxide to the reaction product.
 11. A polymer of claim 1 which has a plurality of
 12. The method of claim 10 in which the tetraalkyl phosphonium iodide of the structure 